Blade cartridges and lockable safety covers

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems, and methods in which a utility knife includes a blade guard rotatably covering the cutting edge of a blade. The blade guard can be locked and unlocked by a primary mechanism. In addition or alternative to the primary mechanism, the blade guard can be set to provide a maximum exposure of the cutting edge for cutting, a minimum exposure of the cutting edge, a maximum retraction of the blade guard over the cutting edge after performing work, or a minimum retraction of the blade guard. The tensive force required to rotate the blade guard and expose the cutting edge can also be adjusted.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cartridge comprising:
 a handle-coupling member configured to reversibly mate with a handle; 
 a blade with a cutting edge; 
 a blade guard movable with respect to the blade between a resting position and a first flexed position, wherein the blade guard covers a greater portion of the cutting edge in the resting position than in the first flexed position; 
 a blade guard arrestor, wherein the blade guard arrestor prevents a movement of the blade cover and can be changed from a first setting to a second setting, wherein the blade guard arrestor at the first setting prevents the blade guard from completely covering the cutting edge; and 
 a blade guard retractor with an on setting and an off setting, wherein the on setting allows the blade cover to move from the first flexed position to the resting position. 
 
     
     
       2. The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the blade guard arrestor at the first setting allows the blade guard to cover more of the cutting edge than at the second setting. 
     
     
       3. The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the blade guard is movable between a resting position and a second flexed position different than the first flexed position. 
     
     
       4. The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the blade guard arrestor can be changed from a first setting to a third setting different than the second setting. 
     
     
       5. A cartridge comprising:
 a handle-coupling member configured to reversibly mate with a handle; 
 a blade with a cutting edge; 
 a blade guard movable with respect to the blade between a resting position and a flexed position, wherein the blade guard at least partially covers the cutting edge in the resting position, and wherein a force is required to move the blade guard from the resting position toward the flexed position; and 
 a blade guard force adjuster, wherein the blade guard force adjuster allows a user to change the force. 
 
     
     
       6. The cartridge of  claim 5 , wherein the blade guard force adjuster can be set by the user between 10N and 0.01N. 
     
     
       7. The cartridge of  claim 5 , further comprising a blade guard arrestor, wherein the blade guard arrestor prevents a movement of the blade cover and can be changed from a first setting to a second setting. 
     
     
       8. The cartridge of  claim 5 , wherein (i) the blade guard arrestor at the first setting prevents the blade guard from completely covering the cutting edge, or (ii) the blade guard arrestor in the first position prevents the blade guard from completely exposing the cutting edge. 
     
     
       9. A cartridge comprising:
 a handle-coupling member configured to reversibly mate with a handle; 
 a blade with a cutting edge; 
 a blade guard movable with respect to the blade between a resting position and a first flexed position, wherein the blade guard covers a greater portion of the cutting edge in the resting position than in the first flexed position; 
 a blade guard arrestor, wherein the blade guard arrestor prevents a movement of the blade cover and can be changed from a first setting to a second setting, wherein the blade guard arrestor at the first setting prevents the blade guard from completely covering the cutting edge; and 
 a blade guard retractor with an on setting and an off setting, wherein the off setting prevents the blade guard from moving from the first flexed position to the resting position. 
 
     
     
       10. A cartridge comprising:
 a handle-coupling member configured to reversibly mate with a handle; 
 a blade with a cutting edge; 
 a blade guard movable with respect to the blade between a resting position and a first flexed position, wherein the blade guard covers a greater portion of the cutting edge in the resting position than in the first flexed position; 
 a blade guard arrestor, wherein the blade guard arrestor prevents a movement of the blade cover and can be changed from a first setting to a second setting, wherein the blade guard arrestor at the first setting prevents the blade guard from completely covering the cutting edge; and 
 a blade guard force adjuster, wherein a force is required to move the blade guard from the resting position toward the first flexed position, and the blade guard force adjuster allows a user to change the force. 
 
     
     
       11. The cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein the blade guard force adjuster can be set by the user between 10N and 0.01N. 
     
     
       12. A cartridge comprising:
 a handle-coupling member configured to reversibly mate with a handle; 
 a blade with a cutting edge; 
 a blade guard movable with respect to the blade between a resting position and a first flexed position, wherein the blade guard covers a greater portion of the cutting edge in the resting position than in the first flexed position; and 
 a blade guard arrestor, wherein the blade guard arrestor prevents a movement of the blade cover and can be changed from a first setting to a second setting, wherein the blade guard arrestor at the first setting prevents the blade guard from completely covering the cutting edge, wherein the blade guard arrestor is at least partially operated by a mechanism on the handle. 
 
     
     
       13. A cartridge comprising:
 a handle-coupling member configured to reversibly mate with a handle; 
 a blade with a cutting edge; 
 a blade guard movable with respect to the blade between a resting position and a first flexed position, wherein the blade guard covers a greater portion of the cutting edge in the resting position than in the first flexed position; 
 a blade guard arrestor, wherein the blade guard arrestor prevents a movement of the blade cover and can be changed from a first setting to a second setting, wherein the blade guard arrestor at the first setting prevents the blade guard from completely covering the cutting edge; and 
 a blade guard retractor with an on setting and an off setting, wherein the off setting prevents the blade guard from move from the first flexed position. 
 
     
     
       14. The cartridge of  claim 13 , wherein the blade guard arrestor at the first setting allows the blade guard to expose more of the cutting edge than at the second setting. 
     
     
       15. The cartridge of  claim 13 , further comprising a blade guard retractor with an on setting and an off setting, wherein the on setting allows the blade cover to move from the first flexed position to the resting position. 
     
     
       16. A cartridge comprising:
 a handle-coupling member configured to reversibly mate with a handle; 
 a blade with a cutting edge; 
 a blade guard movable with respect to the blade between a resting position and a first flexed position, wherein the blade guard covers a greater portion of the cutting edge in the resting position than in the first flexed position; 
 a blade guard arrestor, wherein the blade guard arrestor prevents a movement of the blade cover and can be changed from a first setting to a second setting, and wherein the blade guard arrestor in the first setting prevents the blade guard from completely exposing the cutting edge; and 
 a blade guard retractor with an on setting and an off setting, wherein the off setting prevents the blade cover from moving from the first flexed position to the resting position. 
 
     
     
       17. The cartridge of  claim 16 , wherein the blade guard force adjuster can be set by the user between 10N and 0.01N. 
     
     
       18. A cartridge comprising:
 a handle-coupling member configured to reversibly mate with a handle; 
 a blade with a cutting edge; 
 a blade guard movable with respect to the blade between a resting position and a first flexed position, wherein the blade guard covers a greater portion of the cutting edge in the resting position than in the first flexed position; 
 a blade guard arrestor, wherein the blade guard arrestor prevents a movement of the blade cover and can be changed from a first setting to a second setting, and wherein the blade guard arrestor in the first setting prevents the blade guard from completely exposing the cutting edge; and 
 a blade guard force adjuster, wherein a force is required to move the blade guard from the resting position toward the first flexed position, and the blade guard force adjuster allows a user to change the force. 
 
     
     
       19. A cartridge comprising:
 a handle-coupling member configured to reversibly mate with a handle; 
 a blade with a cutting edge; 
 a blade guard movable with respect to the blade between a resting position and a first flexed position, wherein the blade guard covers a greater portion of the cutting edge in the resting position than in the first flexed position; and 
 a blade guard arrestor, wherein the blade guard arrestor prevents a movement of the blade cover and can be changed from a first setting to a second setting, and wherein the blade guard arrestor in the first setting prevents the blade guard from completely exposing the cutting edge, wherein the blade guard arrestor is at least partially operated by a mechanism on the handle.